Czech Airlines to leave SkyTeam

Whilst the SkyTeam airline alliance is preparing to welcome Scandinavian airline SAS as a new member on 1st September, it will soon see a departure too.

After 100 years – in fact, 100 years and 362 days – Czech Airlines will cease to exist after 26th October.

The airline has been owned by Prague-based low cost carrier Smartwing since 2017 but various attempts to revive the flag carrier have failed.

Czech Airlines will disappear from the SkyTeam membership list, and Smartwing – as a budget carrier – has no interest in replacing them. The OK Plus frequent flyer scheme will also close after 26th October, with all points balances wiped out.

It does appear, however, that the Czech Airlines brand will remain – albeit with Smartwing operating the flights under Smartwing (QS) flight numbers – on routes which can sustain a more premium service.

Czech Airlines is currently a shadow of its former self, with its fleet of two aircraft only flying two routes – Prague to Paris and Prague to Madrid.